[Micropulse cyclophotocoagulation lowers the intraocular pressure: half year results].

Background: Cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) is a simple noninvasive and quickly available procedure for lowering intraocular pressure but due to its dreaded potential for complications it continues to play an outsider role in surgical treatment planning. The Micropulse-CPC promises to be a more tissue-friendly and less painful procedure and thus a lower rate of side effects.

Method: Retrospective evaluation of all patients who were treated with the Micropulse-CPC laser at the measurement times 1 day preoperatively, 2 days postoperatively, after 3 months and 6 months.

Results: Between 2018 and 2019 a total of 63 eyes in 46 patients were treated. The mean intraocular pressure in the total collective was 20.6 mm Hg before surgery and decreased to 13.5 mm Hg 2 days after surgery, 16.2 mm Hg after 3 months and 14.6 mm Hg after 6 months (p < 0.002). An average of 3.2 hypotensive substances were used preoperatively, 2.4 substances 2 days postoperatively, 2.6 substances after 3 months and 2.8 after 6 months (p < 0.001). The visual acuity (VA) before surgery was 0.59 logMAR, 2 days postoperatively VA was 0.60, after 3 months 0.59 and after 6 months VA was 0.5 (statistically not significant). A complication (subconjunctival bleeding) occurred intraoperatively and the postoperative complication rate was 0%.

Conclusion: Treatment with a Micropulse-CPC laser offers a gentle way of reducing pressure in a timely manner. The use of the Micropulse-CPC is advocated as a first surgical option as well as for patients with good visual acuity.